Feeding device for type casting machines



April 18, 1933. 1 EWlNG ET 1,903,904

FEEDING vDEVICE FOR TYPE CASTING MACHINEs Filed Dec. 5, 1929 Qumran.

Patented Apr. 18, 1933 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES LHQ'DSAY EWING AND ROBIN RUDOLF TOBIAS, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA FEEDING DEVICE FOR TYPE CASTING MACHINES Application filed December 5, 1929. Serial No. 411,752.

This invention relates to feeding devices for type casting machines and has for its object to provide a new and improved device of this description.

. The invention has as a provide a feeding device of this kind in which the metal is automatically delivered to the pot in response to the movement of the pot itself. I

The invention has as a further object to provide a feeding device which shall be positive in action and in connection with which there is no chance of obstructing the holding pp of the metal or of allowing the pot to run The invention has as a further object to provide a feeding device wherein there is no possibility of the metal melting while the machine is idle.

The invention has as a further object to give a warning notice to the operator when more metal is needed.

The invention has as a further object to provide a feeding device which shall be simple in construction and effective in operation.

The invention has further objects which are more particularly pointed out in the accompanying description.

Referring now to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing one form of the feeding device in position on the frame of a casting machine with which it is used.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the metal supporting feeding block. 4

Like numerals refer to like parts out the several figures.

Referring now to the drawing wherein we have illustrated one form of feeding device embodying the invention, there is provided a frame which supports the mechanism. This frame consists of the two members 1 and 2 removably connected together by the fastening'device 3. A supporting part 4 is connected with one member and the frame is connected with the casting machine frame 5 by means of this supporting member and a threaded pin 6 which passes through the member and throughfurther object to member 14 and ratchet 13 engages the frame of the casting machine. The frame is provided with the angular members 6 and 7 and a threaded rod 8 is rotatably mounted in said angular'members as bearings. The upper end 9 of this rod is free from screw threads and projects through the angular member 6 and is provided with a controlling handle 10. The lower end 11 of the rod 8 is also free from screw threads. The rod projects through the member 7 and is provided with a ratchet wheel 12 by means of which the rod is rotated. A pawl 13 engages the ratchet wheel 12. This pawl is pivotally connected to a member 14: loosely mounted on the threaded rod 8. Connected with the pawl is a spring 15 which is connected also to the plate and which tends to keep the pawl in contact with the teeth on the ratchet wheel. The plate and pawl are moved by the movement of the melting pot 16 as such melting pot is moved to deliver the molten metal to the casting machine.

The construction herein shown for that purpose, consists of an operating arm 17 connected to the ratchet member 14. This arm projects over the pot. The pot contains a float 18 made of aluminum or other suitable material. This float is provided with an upstanding part 19 to which is connected a rod 20, the rod being connected to the part 19 by a suitable clamping connect- I ing plece 21. The rod 20 is adjustably connected with the piece 21 as by having a threaded connection therewith. The rod passes loosely through a block 22 connected with the pot 16. The rod loosely passes through a bushing 23 in the block. When the pot 16 is in its initial position, the rod 20 is directly above a recess 23 in the arm 17 When the level of the metal in the pot lowers to such a point where additional metal is required, the float 18 moves the rod 20 so that it enters the recess 23 in the arm 17 As the pot is moved to deliver the metal the rod 20 thus enmoves said arm and the so as to rotate the ratchet wheel 12 and the threaded rod 8. The metal 24 to be delivered to the melting to the casing machine, gaging the arm 17 pot is connected to a nut 25 on the threadedrod 8, the connection being made by a supporting piece 26 connected with the nut and having a projecting end which fits an oval opening 27 in the piece. of metal to be delivered to the pot.

When the threaded rod 8 is rotated, by the movement of the pot, the nut is lowered so as to deposit the piece of metal 24 in the pot. If the machine should be operated when the metal in the pot is not in a molten condition but is in a solid condition, the piece of metal 24 will not be delivered to the pot for the end thereof will strike the solid metal and the oval hole 27 permits the metal piece to slide along the supporting piece 26 without being disconnected therefrom. This, therefore, prevents too much metal being added to the pot when the device is idle and thus overflowing the meltin pot. Means is provided for indicating to the operator when the new metal is added to the melting pot. This is accomplished by means of a .bell 28 which has an actuating member 29 engaged by a projection 30 on the nut 25 as the nut is lowered to deposit the additional metal in the pot.

Some means is provided for quickly moving the nut back to its upper position with out rotating the nut or the threaded rod. In the construction shown, this is accomplished by making the nut a split nut consisting of the two parts 25a and 25?) with the opening 250 divided between them. The two parts of the nut are connected together by the pivoted connecting pieces 31 and 31a, each piece having one end pivoted to one of the parts of the nut and the other end to the other part of the nut, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The two members of the nut are locked together by the locking member 32. When the nut reaches its lowered position, it engages the part 11 free from threads. When it is desired to lift the nut, the locking arm 32 is moved to disconnect the two parts of the nut and the operator takes hold of the support 25 which is connected to the part 256. This causes the two parts of the nut to be separated by causing the connecting members 31 to move to a horizontal position and the nut can then be fifted without rotation to the upper end of the threaded rod 8, preferably up to the part 9 free from screw threads. Upon releasing the support 26, the two parts of the nut automatically come together and engage the screw thread and the locking arm is then moved to its locking position and the device is ready to be lowered by the rotation of the threaded rod 8. The plate 14 and pawl 13 are retracted by a retracting spring 33 connected with the plate 14 and the retracting movement is stopped by the stop 34 on said plate engaging the frame 1. When the additional metal is added to the pot, it reaches the level of the metal therein and the float 18 is raised so as to lVe prefer to, provide a guiding rod 35 for I the nut 25, the nut being provided with a hole in which the rod is received.

It will be seen that by means of this construction the metal is automatically fed to the meltin pot as the melting pot needs it and that there is no chance of the metal in the pot running too low.

It will further be seen that there is no possibility of too much metal being added to the pot so as to overflow it.

It will further be seen that by means of this construction themelting pot is accessible and the metal can be skimmed or the parts therein removed .by simply backing up the threaded rod. This device is simple in construction, costs very little to install and is not liable to get out of order and can be used with all types of strip casting machines. The nut may also be raised and lowered by hand if desired, by rotating the threaded rod by means of the handle 10.

We claim 1. A feeding device for type casting machines comprising a frame, means for connecting it to the casting inachine, a threaded rod rotatably mounted in said frame, a nut operating on said rod, a support connected with said nut, upon which the metal to be fed is supported, a pot into which said metal is delivered, and means associated with said pot for rotating said threaded rod as the pot is moved in the operation of the casting machine, said means controlled by the level of the metal in the pot.

2. A feeding device for type casting machines comprising a frame adapted to be connected with the casting machine, a threaded rod rotatably mounted in said frame, a split nut engaging said threaded rod and having two members pivotally connected together, a metal supporting piece connected with one member of said nut and supporting the metal to be delivered to the apparatus, the two members of the nut being separated by lifting on the said supporting piece so that the nut may be moved along the threaded rod without' rotation, a melting pot into which nected with the casting machine, a threaded rod rotatably mounted in said frame, a split nut engaging said threaded rod and havmg two members pivotally connected together, a metal supporting piece connectedwith one member of said nut and supporting the metal to be delivered to the apparatus, the two members of the nut being separated by lifting on the said supporting piece so that the nut may be moved along the threaded rod without rotation, the metal is delivered, a connection between the threaded rod and the pot by means of which the threaded rod is rotated when the pot is moved to deliver molten metal to the casting machine so as to cause the nut and the metal supported thereon to be lowered to deliver the metal to the .pot, and means responsive to the level-of the metal in the pot for disconnecting the connection between the threaded rod and the pot.

4. A feeding device for type casting machines comprising a frame adapted to be connected with the casting machine, a threaded rod rotatably mounted in said frame, a. split nut engaging said threaded rod and having two members pivotally connected together, a

metal supporting piece connected with onemember of said nut and supporting the metal to be delivered to the apparatus, the two members of the nut being separated by lifting on the said supporting piece so that the nut may be moved-along the threaded rodwithout rotation, a melting pot into which the metal is delivered, a connection between the threaded rod and the pot by means of which the threaded rod is rotated when the pot is moved to deliver molten metal to the casting machine so as to cause the nut and the metal supported thereon to be lowered to deliver the metal to the pot, comprising a ratchet wheel on the threaded rod, a pawl cooperating therewith, an operating arm connected with said pawl, a float in the melting pot, a rod connected with said float, said rod engaging said operating arm when the level of the metal in the pot falls below a predetermined point and disengaging said operating arm when the level of the metal rises above a redetermined point.,

5. A ceding device for type casting machines comprising a frame, a rotatable threaded rod mounted in said frame, a nut connected with said rod, a support for the metal connected with said nut and having an outwardly bent end, the metal being provided with an enlarged opening into which the outwardly bent end is inserted and means for rotating said rod to lower the nut and the metal and a melting pot into which said metal is lowered.

JAMES LINDSAY EWING. ROBIN RUDOLF TOBIAS.'

a melting pot into which 

